Matt Toeaina

ARTICLES ABOUT MATT TOEAINA BY DATE - PAGE 5

It was time when the Bears cut ties with Tommie Harris in February 2011. Now, in May 2012, it could be time to bring Harris back. Confused? When the Bears cut Harris, he was the starting defensive tackle, the onetime centerpiece of the defense who was scheduled to make more than $5.3 million that season. If they bring back Harris, they think he can be a fourth defensive tackle in a rotation for what passes for chump change in an NFL locker room. Things have changed in a year.

A league source confirmed Monday that free-agent defensive tackle Amobi Okoye will visit the Cincinnati Bengals after the NFL owners' meetings. Okoye started one game for the Bears last season after signing a one-year contract. He played in all 16 games, finishing fourth on the team with four sacks. Okoye also recorded 27 tackles. The Bears could use more depth on the interior of the defensive line despite returning players such as Henry Melton, Matt Toeaina, and Stephen Paea.

In the first of what could be a few similar moves, the Bears informed Anthony Adams on Sunday that he will be released. It's not surprising when you consider the defensive tackle saw his playing time fade in 2011. The Bears considered him a necessary part of the front at this time a year ago and he was eventually signed to a $4.5 million, two-year contract after the lockout ended. But Adams played in 11 games and started only four as he got the fewest reps among defensive tackles in the regular rotation, being passed up by rookie Stephen Paea and veteran Matt Toeaina a year after Adams started all 16 games.

Second in a 10-part series The Chicago Bears didn't get what they needed from the defensive line in 2011. The season sure started with a bang. The Bears sacked Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan five times in the season opener and applied the kind of constant pressure that could have defined a defense for the season. But the Bears couldn't repeat it on a weekly basis and that became problematic. Julius Peppers had a fine season by any measure. He recorded 11 sacks, three more than he had in 2010, giving him 100 for his career.

DENVER — The latest chapter of The Second Greatest Story Ever Told ended like all the rest. The Chosen One parts the sea of defenders and gives even greater hope to those who believe. The nonbelievers curse their fate. Whether or not Tim Tebow worked a miracle, or the Bears allowed him to, could be debated for eternity. "He's a good running back," is what Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said. Added defensive end Julius Peppers, "It wasn't anything special that he did. " As a quarterback, Tebow was far from special.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Bears coach Lovie Smith said last week the coaching staff got in the ear of the defensive linemen and demanded a better pass rush. The players obviously listened. A week after going without a sack against Philip Rivers and the Chargers, the Bears managed four sacks of Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer during Sunday's 25-20 loss. Defensive linemen accounted for all five hits on Palmer, and the front four was solid against the run too. Still, defensive end Julius Peppers, who finished with two sacks, five tackles and three quarterback hits, wasn't satisfied.

The film didn't lie. Bears coach Lovie Smith and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli were equally disturbed about the defensive line's performance Sunday in a victory over the Chargers. Not only did the Bears fail to record a sack, they had just one hit on Philip Rivers, not regarded as the most mobile of quarterbacks. To make matters worse, the front four was up against a Chargers offensive line down three starters. "That wasn't up to the standard we wanted," Marinelli said.

It might not be his left ankle that's hampering Devin Hester right now. He's just not fully healthy, and that's why the Bears held him out on offense Sunday, limiting his use to two punt returns and three kickoff returns. The Bears also put Hester on the field for Nick Novak's 55-yard field-goal attempt on the final play of the first half, attempting to re-create the magic he had against the Giants in 2006 at the Meadowlands. "I'm just banged up right now," said Hester, who practiced last week after playing a week ago despite not practicing.

Last year, maybe Mike Martz wouldn't have felt so comfortable turning to Edwin Williams. The Bears offensive coordinator praised Williams as a physical, prototypical offensive guard, but Martz realized his complex scheme was too much for the inexperienced Williams to digest initially. "He wasn't ready for that," Martz said. "The new system, getting used to everything. He got a little overwhelmed. " The 6-foot-3, 315-pound Williams, who started three games at right guard last season, will start his first game at left guard Sunday because starter Chris Williams is on injured reserve after dislocating his wrist.